Mac mini desktop class cpu

[Serban]

Does the mac mini ever had inside any desktop class cpu?

 

[jpietrzak8]

Does the mac mini ever had inside any desktop class cpu?

Nope. Then again, that's kind of the point: the Mac Mini is a "Small Form Factor" class of PC. The idea being that you want to shove as much computing power as you can into as small a space as you can. It is far easier to do this with a CPU that uses less electricity (thereby allowing for a smaller power supply) and requires less active cooling equipment (thereby allowing for smaller fans).

It would be nice, I think, for Apple to start selling devices again with desktop CPUs. But yeah, the Mini is not the right vehicle for that sort of hardware.

 

[Serban]

so, basically only the imacs and mac pro use desktop class cpu in mac family ?

 

[redheeler]

so, basically only the imacs and mac pro use desktop class cpu in mac family ?

Yes, the Mac Pro and all iMacs except the lowest-end 21.5".

 

[jpietrzak8]

Technically, the Mac Pro is using Xeon CPUs, which are designed and marketed for workstation use, rather than desktop use. (In general, Xeons perform better than i5/i7 class CPUs for massively multithreaded tasks, but worse for single-thread tasks.)

 

[MysticCow]

I'd rather see something other than Intel graphics in the mini.

Seriously, some of us don't want a handicapped Mac mini.